5 January, 2021
Audrey Gordon becomes Manitoba’s 1st Black cabinet minister. Premier Brian Pallister has expanded his cabinet and split the health minister’s job in two as the province battles a pandemic that has sunk the popularity of his government. Gordon, a first-term MLA, leads the new Department of Mental Health, Wellness and Recovery. She’s the first Black cabinet minister in Manitoba’s history. Pallister said Gordon’s appointment marks a “historic day” for Manitoba, “but Audrey Gordon wasn’t appointed because of race, she was appointed because of merit,” after working for 20 years as a member of the civil service.